Financial Wellness

7 Steps to ATM Safety

ATMs are convenient, fast, and easy to use. Take important steps to stay safe.

Many people rely on ATMs for quick, convenient access to cash and routine banking transactions. Whether at a walk-up or drive-up location, ATMs offer an easy way to withdraw funds, make deposits, and manage your account. Since ATMs provide direct access to your money, they can also attract thieves and other criminals seeking to exploit unsuspecting users.

7 STEPS TO ATM SAFETY

1. Keep Your Card Secure

Your PIN (personal identification number) is an important security measure that helps prevent fraudulent activity.

• Do not write down your PIN.
• When creating a PIN, don’t use numbers someone may guess, such as those relating to your birthday, card number, or address.
• Never share your PIN or give it out to anyone. No individual or entity should ask you for it, including merchants, financial agencies, or law enforcement.

2. Prepare in Advance

Preparation before arriving to the ATM can reduce the time you spend at the ATM and keep you focused on your transaction and surroundings.

• Have everything ready before beginning your transaction, such as endorsing checks or organizing cash you’ll deposit.
• Stash items for your transaction — your cash, checks, and card — in a discreet but accessible place, like an envelope or secure pocket of your bag. This way, you won’t need to hunt for these items at the ATM.
• Avoid wearing or taking expensive items, such as jewelry.

3. Find the Best Location

Even ATMs in well-lit, busy areas with camera surveillance can be targeted by thieves.

• Don’t have a false sense of security and be aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid ATMs located out of view from the road or set behind a building.
• Avoid ATMs near decorative shrubbery, columns, or structures nearby which could provide hiding places by thieves.

4. Stay Alert

Whether on foot or in a car, watch for loiterers or suspicious vehicles parked nearby.

• » If you leave your car to use a walk-up ATM…
  • Lock your car and remain alert to your surroundings.
  • If possible, go with friends and during daylight.
  • If you see or sense that something is amiss, leave and perform your transaction at a different time or location. Always trust your instincts.
• » If you’re using a drive-up ATM…
  • Leave enough room between cars for you to safely maneuver away if needed.
  • Stay in your car with the doors locked, windows up, and engine running.
  • When it’s your turn at the ATM, pull as close to the machine as possible, making it difficult for someone to get between it and your car.
  • If someone approaches you or asks for help at any time, don’t unlock your door or roll down your window. Instead, politely decline, and stay in your vehicle. Drive away if you feel uncomfortable.

5. Check for ATM Tampering

Look for warning signs.

• Card skimmers are electronic devices that thieves use to record your card number and PIN.
  • Scratches or scrapes around the screen, keypad, or card reader
  • Glue, tape, or sticky residue on the screen, keypad, or card reader
  • Loose, crooked, or dangling ATM components
  • Bulkiness on the card reader or keypad
  • Partially covered or missing buttons, words, or graphics
  • Resistance when pressing buttons or inserting your card
• Pinhole cameras — used to identify your PIN or other details — are often glued to the ATM or installed in a small hole nearby (such as one drilled into a brick pillar).
• If you doubt the security of an ATM, trust your gut, report your observations to the business that manages the ATM, and use a different machine.

6. Keep Your Transaction Secure

Ensure you have privacy when completing your financial transactions.

• No one should be close enough to the ATM to see your transaction details. If they are, politely ask them to step back, and leave if they refuse.
• At walk-up ATMs, use your body and hands to shield the keypad from view when you enter your PIN and make your deposit or withdrawal.
• Do not accept anyone’s offer to assist with your transaction, even if you’re running into problems with the ATM. Instead, just leave and try a different ATM.
• If you realize after completing your transaction that someone may have seen your details, contact your financial institution right away.

7. Leave Quickly

Safety is as important approaching an ATM as when you leave.

• » If leaving by car,
  • Promptly roll your car window up and keep your doors locked.
  • Try to avoid driving past suspicious vehicles or people.
• » If leaving on foot
  • Walk with purpose and pay attention to your surroundings.
  • Don’t walk past suspicious vehicles or people.
  • If you feel unsafe in any ATM situation, immediately go into the nearest reputable business or call someone you trust.
  • If you’re followed from the ATM, go to the nearest crowded, well-lit area and call the police.

The Best Defense is Awareness

ATMs are convenient and fast, but they can also be targets for criminals. With caution and vigilance, you can identify and avoid suspicious situations at ATMs. Remember to report lost, stolen, or potentially compromised cards to your financial institution immediately.

Learn more more about protecting yourself and your finances through our Scam Awareness & Cyber Security articles.

• Tips on Avoiding Physical & Digital Theft
• Trending Scams: Stay Alert and Aware
• Phone Scams